Centrifugal oil filter construction



Dec. 22, 1953 G. T. BYNUM 2,663,424

CENTRIFUGAL OIL FILTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GEORGE T. BYNUM i BMJl/@radm .loll

Dec. 22, 1953 G. T. BYNUM 2,663,424

I CENTRIFUGAL OIL FILTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEURG-E T. BYNU M Dec. 22, 1953 G. T. BYNUM CENTRIFUGAL OIL FILTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 19, 1951 ETE- EL INVENTOR. GEORGE T. BvrwM BY Dec. 22, 1953 G. T. BYNUM CENTRIFUGAL OIL FILTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 19, 1951 WB n E GY@ Dec. 22, 1953 G. T. BYNUM OENTRIFUOAL OIL FILTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 19. 1951 Ef- Eg INVENTOR. vGEORGE T- BNUM Patented Dec. 22, 1953 YCEl\l'l.`l3,I1`UGrAL OIL FILTER CONSTRUCTION George T. Bynum, Liverpool, N. Y., assigner to Ail-cooled Motors, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 19, 1951, Serial No. 256,991

11 Claims.

This invention relates to oil iilters as, `for instance, for filtering the lubricating oil of internal combustion engines, and has for its object an oil lter in which the lubricating oil is forced through a centrifugal power actuated oil lter drum by a power actuated impeller, both the impeller and the oil drum being mounted on a power or engine actuated shaft Within a casing formed with compartments in which the impeller, the oil drum, and also an entrance compartment are housed.

One of the objects of the invention is the arrangement of the power actuated shaft, and the entrance, impeller and filter drum compartments in series in the casing.

A further object is the concentric arrangement of a series of filter chambers in the lter drum through which some of the oil is by-passed. Another feature is the arrangement of the entrance `compartment of the casing and means therein Yfor splitting and distributing the incoming oil into two streams and directing it axially n and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

' In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure i is a longitudinal sectional View of this oil filter construction taken on line I--I, Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. n

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views on line 2 2, 3 3, 4--4 and 5--5, respectively, Figure l. i s

i This lter construction comprises a casing I which is cylindrical in general form, the casing having a flange 2 by which it is secured, as by screws or bolts, to a support as the crank casing of the engine, a shaft 3 journalled in the casing l and extending ccaxialiy thereinto, a pump or impeller, and a centrifugal filter drum mounted onthe shaft in series so that the oil is forced from an entrance compartment to the impeller, and from the impeller to the drum where a porp tion oi the oil is by-passed through filter chambers of the drum. The shaft 3 has means at its inner end for extending into the engine casing drum is journalled in a bearing at 'I, as will be hereinafter described.

The casing I is provided with an entrance com partment 3 having a laterally or radially extending inlet which is coupled to a conduit leading from the engine base and through which the oil is forced by the oil `pump of the engine. The entrance compartment is formed with a central passage l around the shaft 3, the walls oi the passage It being radially spaced from the shaft a. The passage Il opens into the impeller compartment II. The impeller i2 is located in the compartment I I and is a centrifugal impeller and hence, throws the oil centrifugally outward. The casing is also formed with radial outlet passage sections I3 from the impeller compartment which communicate with inwardly converging outlet passage sections Ifi opening into a central annular outlet I5 concentric with the shaft 3 and discharging into the inner end of a main axial outlet passage I of the filter drum,

casing i, as by studs and nuts l, itA. Thecoupling I8 may, however, be an integral part of the outer end wall i5. The outer Wall t is demountable and is secured to the casing, as by studs 26 and nuts 26A. The passages Ill are formed by stationary vanes IfiA which direct and distribute the rapidly whirling oil to the central outlet I5. The vanes lliA are spiral. Two of them are shown as cut by the section line l--l,

Figure e, on which Figure l is taken. Upon the removal oi the outer wall t, the bearing i can be removed and the filter drum removed as a unit for soaking, or cleaning. The inner portion ci' the casing I at which the ange 2 is located,

which flange is secured to the engine casing, is herein considered the inner 01 front end. The portion of the casing at which the removable `Wall 6 is located is considered herein as the outer or rear end. The entrance compartment 3, im"

peller compartment ll, and the compartment 2l, in which the lter drum I1 is located, are thus connected in series from the inner end of the casing toward the outer end.

As here illustrated, the casing l is formed with an entrance section lA, an intermediate section IB, and a filter drum compartment section IC, these sections providingtransverse, partition means which form the entranceV compartment-8, lmpeller compartment il, and the filter drum compartment 2l, and the passages connecting them in series. The sectionsaresecured together at their margins by studs 22 vand nuts 22A. The section IB is formed with a channel-L portion.- 2.3i Figure 2, which projects into; the entrancel com@ partment 3 and overhangs the radial entrance or inlet portion t, this annular portion: 23,V being; provided with a radial splitter 24 directed toward the inlet or entrance portion 9 to split the iin'- coming oil into right and` left streams, and also with deflectors 25X iordistributing the; oil: in the two' streams. Diametricallyopposite. the de,- flectors 25. are located another pair of oppositely disposed deflectors 2:6; which cause: the. two. streamsy to. be directed radially inwardl to. the central outlet. lil into. theY central portion ofthe impeller chamber H. rIihe projecting channel portion 2-3 isformed with abottom wallor septum 23A located to. direct. the: two. streams. of. Oil: from. the deectors 25, 26, inward. intothe. central passage l0., Figures land 2. Theimpeller cham..- ber ll is formed partly in` the' sectionV IB and partly in thefrontwall. 210i the-section lCi'which houses. the filter drum IL'FS. The outlet sections, I3A are formedpartly in the section IBL-and partly in the inner wall 2:1' of the section i'C', and the converging outlet. passage sections If are formed inthe frontwall 27! of the sectionlC'. The vanes. IQA are in the outlet i. Thus, the oil entering. the inlet il` of the entrance chamber-'is divided into` two. streams which are deflected Without undue turbulence into the impeller chamber II- andare discharged rstradially outward and then radially inward into. the outlet I into the main-v axial outlet I6l of the lter drum l1.

Te filter drum'A H isV also. mounted or coupled. to the end of the shaft 3` to be rotated' thereby and. as here shown iseoupledy to the sha-ft 3` b-y a spider-like bracket 28` having a h-ub- 2'9 slidably splined at 3U on the outer endof the shaft 3- so that the coupling and the drum can be shiftedaxially and detached from tl-ieshaft 3'. This coupling carries a stream lined nose 3 l` extend-ing part lway into the main outlet IGof: the filter drum to. avoid undue turbulence.

As here illustrated, the lter: drum H is provided with a concentric-series off' annular or cyl-inf drical partitions 32 whichA divide the interior-'- of the drum into a series of concentric ltercompartments 33, 34, 35. These partitions are` interlocked at their ends with imperforateheads 36" 31,0f the drum and, ashereshown, the'partitions" 32 are formed with a set oi angular lugs 38 at each end which extend between one set of spaced lugs 391.011 each of the `hea-ds 3B, 31:', the sets of lugs being in effect driving lugs. The innermost chamber 33. communicates through inlets llopening into the main outlet. I6 adjacent the inner head 35 of the drum,A and; hasoutletsY 41|1 for its outer or rear end` into the next outermost; chamber 34, these outlets being inlets for the chamber 34, and the chamber 34 has outlets, 42 through the partition thereof near the inner end of the partition into the outermost chamber 35. The outermost chamber 35 has outlets 413V into.

an annular outlet passage 46 formed in the removable outer end wall 6, this outlet passage 46 opening at 4l at intervals into the coupling I8 so that the oil by-passed through the lter chambers rejoins the main stream of oil through the outlet I6, at the outer end of the main outlet passage It. The filter chambers 33, 35, 35, are provd'edz With suitable 'filter or screening material, not shown.

The filter drum I1 is removable as a unit. As here shown, the Wall of the main outlet I6 is secur.ed,. as by weld-ingf to the bracket 28 and to an outlet nozzle 48 inserted in the outer end of the mainY outlet t6' of the drum. The inner head 36 of the'V drum is secured by a lock or thrust ring 49K to the inner` endl of the tubular main outlet Wall? L64, and. the1 outer head 31 of the drum is secured to a flange on the nozzle d8, as by a screw 59a The main portion of the oil say, for illustration 85%., passes. directly through: thei mainl outlet le; while. a; predetermined: portion. as, f or.`` exz-'l ample, 15% Icy-passes. through theziilterv cham. bers: 33?, 34,. 35, in a tortuous. path and re-enters theV mainl stream. of oil through the, outlet; passage: 4.6. irr the remoizable; rearA Wall 6i of the Gase mg.y

As: is. understood, it'. is; necessary..` tdz remove; the,-

lter drum for cleaning: and replacement at: regi, ular intervals'. in accordance with the.r time: the; ena. gine, to which the lter is installed; isin use.. In` some installations, asl in airplane-r engines. it'. is necessaryy to: replace the. lter" drinnv at; short; in;- terv'al'sf, as'4 say'f ten' hours.. Tol remove the :lter: drum, the outer end wall Gof the casing I1 iszde tached by unscrewing the nuts 2BA, thus permittingv the end. Wall t. to be. demounted'. drum can then. beremox/.ed as. a` unit, the hub. 29. of the coupling 28 sliding off the endA of.v the shaft 3i. Ina demounting the coupling, the bea-re. ing- 'If can be, removed by demounting the lock ring` A cleaned filter drum carrbe installed by the reversal of' tlf-hase1 operations.

The outlet pipe from the coupling leads to an oilcoolerf and then to a; supplyor sump. froml which the oilv is fedY tothe regular' fuel? pump of v theengine. The oiilf' is forced bythe fuel pumpY through the bearings and otherparts to' be lubri^- cated of the engine and into the inlet 9 or" the entrance chamber il of the casing' and re-c-irculated'.

Theroil feeds into' the inlet S of the entrance chamber 81 at a comparatively low: pressure but, the boosting effect off they centrifugal impellergreatly facilitates the movement ofi the oi-l through the entrance compartmentV G andY through the lter drum;

In operation, by this filter construction theoripasses from the entrance chamber-inwardly to the center ofthe-centrifugal impeller H where-it is first thrown outwardly" and then forced inward through the outlet l5 of the impeller chamber andintothe tubular main' outlet l@ o the' lter drum. Freni-- the lfter drum, a predetermined portion as, say`4 15% of the oil Icy-'passes through the centrifugallllter drum. in a tortuous pathA and` then radially inward to rejoin the oill passed` through the main outlet. te at the outer'v end. ofV

the drum Il. By reason. of.' the arrangement of;

the. entrance, the impeller and' the drum. com'- partments andi the impeller and the centrifugal drum beine; actuated by the power shaft 3,. the. oil is. quickly andl forcibly circulated. andl rapidly cleaned until the lterchambersbeeome clogged; and: then therlter drum :cfm`^ be readily removed The nlterV and cleaned and replaced, or replaced by a previously reconditioned filter drum.

What I claim is: l

1. An oil filter construction comprising a fixed casing, a power actuated shaft in the casing, an impeller mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, a centrifugal filter drum also mountedin the casing coaxial with the shaft and a coupling between the drum and the shaft whereby the drum is rotated by the shaft, the casing being formed with transverse partition means forming an entrance compartment for the oil, a compartment for enclosing the inipeller, and pasv sages connecting the entrance compartment and the impeller compartment and connecting the impeller compartment and the filter drum, the drum having a plurality of ooncentrically spaced apart cylindrical members forming concentric filter chambers, the innermost of said members forming a coaxial main outlet passage extending from said impeller compartment axially of the drum from end to end thereof, the outermost of said cylindrical members being iinperforate and the remaining ones of said members being apertured to permit the flow of oil from said outlet passage through said filter chambers, said outer chamber being formed with a discharge aperture, and the casing being formed with an outlet passage arrange-d to receive the oil from said discharge aperture and direct it inwardly into the main outlet of the drum.

2. ./in oil filter comprising a fixed casing having means for connection to a support and being formed with a filter chamber, a power actuated shaft in the casingan impeller mounted on the shai't to rotate therewith, a centrifugal filter drum mounted in the filter chamber of the casing in axial alinement with the shaft, a coupling between the drum and the shaft whereby the drum is rotated by the shaft; the casing being formed with transverse partition means enclosing an entrance compartment for the inipeller, the partition means being formed to provide a central axial passage around the shaft and spaced therefrom connecting the entrance compartment with the impeller compartment and to provide a central outlet for the impeiler coinpartment around the shaft and spaced radially therefrom and discharging coaxially into the r drum, the impeller being a centrifugal impeller, the drum having a coaxial main outlet from end to end alined with the central outlet of the inipeller compartment and concentric lter passages connected in series, said concentric lter passages being arranged about said coaxial outlet with the innermost lter passage communieating with the main outlet near the inner endV thereof and the casing being formed with an outlet passage communicating with the outermost filter chamber to receive oil from the lter drum, the last mentioned passage extending radially inward and communicating with the main outlet of the drum.

3. An oil filter comprising a fixed casing having means for connection to a support and being formed with a filter chamber, a power actuated shaft in the casing, an impeller mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, a centrifugal filter drum mounted in the nlter chamber of the casing in axial alinement with the shaft, a coupling between the drum and the shaft whereby the drum is rotated by the shaft, the casing being formed with transverse partition means enclosing an` entrance compartment for the impeller,

the drum having a coaxial main outlet from end,

to end alined with the'central outlet of the impeller compartment and concentric filter passages connected in series, said concentric filter passages being arranged about said coaxial out let with the innermost filter passage communicating with the main outlet near the inner end thereof and the casing being formed with an outlet passage communicating with the outermost filter chamber to receive oil from the filter drum, the last mentioned passage extending radially inward and communicating with the main outlet of the drum, the entrance compartment comprising an annular portion concentric with the shaft and a radial outwardly extending entrance portion, and the transverse partition means projecting into the annular entrance portion and provided with a splitter located to direct the inco ning oil from the radial entrance of the entrance compartment in two streams and being also provided with deiiectors located diametrically oppo- .site the splitter for directing the oil inwardly into the central outlet connecting the entrance compartment and the impeller compartment.

e. An oil filter comprising a fixed casing having means for connection to a support and 'being formed with a filter chamber, a power actuated shaft in the casing, an impeller mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, a centrifugal filter drum mounted in the lter chamber of the casing in axial alinement with the shaft, a coupling between the drum and the shaft whereby the drum is rotated by the shaft, the casing being formed with transversepartition means enclosing an entrance compartment for the impeller, the partition means being formed to provide a central axial passage around the shaft and spaced therefrom connecting the entrance compartment with the impeller compartment and to provide a central outlet for the impeller compartment around the shaft and spaced radially therefrom and discharging coaxially into the drum, the impeller being a centrifugal inipeller, the drum having `a coaxial main outlet from end t-o end alined with the central outlet of the impeller compartment and concentric filter passages connected in series, said concentric lter passages being arranged about said coaxial outlet with the innermost filter passage communieating with the main outlet near the inner end thereof and the casing being formed with an outlet passage communicating with the outermost filter chamber to receive oil from the filter drum, the last mentioned passage extending radially inward and communicating with the main outlet of the drum, the entrance compartment comprising an annular portion concentric with the shaft and a radial outwardly extending entrance portion, and the transverse partition means projecting into the annular entrance portion and provided with a splitter located to direct the incoming oil from the radial entrance of the entrance compartment in two streams and being also provided ywith delectors located metrically opposite the splitter for directing the oil inwardly into the central outlet connecting the entrance compartment and the impeller com- 7?. apartment, said portion ofthe` partition means;v which projects into. the; entrance compartnler1t,v also. being formed with abottonr wall; inClin-nef toA converge inwardly into; said central outlet con,- necting the entrance compartmerlt: and thel peller compartment..

5. An oil nlter comprising a fixed' casing have ing means for connection toa support and being: formed with a lter chamber, a power actuated shaft in the casing, anv impeller mounted; onv thez shaft toV rotate therewith; a, centrifugal -lterdrum mountedV inthe lterchamber ofthe cas-- ing in axial alinement with the shafta coupling between the drum andv the sha-ft wherebythedrum isV rot-ated by: the shaft, the casing being4 formed with transverse partition means enclosing an entrance; compartment for the impeller, the partition means being formed to; provide; a'l central axial passage; around. the` shaft, and spaced therefrom connecting, the entrance com,-` partment with the-impellercompartment andI to provide a central outlet for the impeller compartment around the shaft and. spaced, radially therefrom and; discharging; coaxially' into the drum,V the impellerA beingL a centrifugal impeller, the drum having a coaxial main outlet from: end. to end alined with the central outlet, of the im,- peller compartment and concentric-filter passages connected in series, the innermost filter passage. communicating with the; main outlet nearthe inner end thereof and the casing being formed with an outlet passagecommunicating with theY outermost filter chamber to,l receiue,r oil from the lterdrum, the; last mentioned passage-extendeing'radiallyinward anidcommunicatingwith the-1 1 mainoutletof the drum,- the,y passages in the transverse partition means which connectsthe impeller` compartment andthe central outlet thereof-into the lter drum comprisinga radial; outlet section intoV which the oil is` thrown ceneV trifu-gallyand an inward extending section., to the central outlet of the imp-ellerv compartment.

6: An oil, filter comprising aiixedcasing hav,- ing. means for connection to al support. and being.: formed with a iilter---chamben a, power actua-tedsha-ft, in` the casing, ranimpeller mountedA on. the shaft to rotate.. therewith, a centrifugal filter drum, mounted inthe filter'Y chain-ber of the case-- ingY in axial alinement with the shaft, a couplingk between the drum and= the` shaftwhereby the C drum isrotated by the shaft, the casing, being: formedI with transverse parti-tionl means enclose ing an entrance compartment for the impeller, the` partition means being formed-1 to, provide a` centralaxial passage around;Y thel shaft and. spacedv therefrom connecting the: entrance com:k partment with the impellercompartmentand to provide a central outlet forthe impeller comev partment around the. shaft: and spaced radially;

therefrom andV discharging coaxiallyf into; thedrum, the impeller beingf a. centrifugal impeller,v thedrumv having a coaxialmain, outlet fromY endto end. a-linedwiththecentral outlet of the ima pellercompartment andconcentric filter pa -f sages connected, in series-,l the. innermost; nlter. passage-communicatingwith the main-,- outletnea-r theinner endV thereof andA thev cas-ing being formed with.- anoutlet passage. communicating with the outermost lter chamber-to`- receive-oilV from the-filter drum, the lastmentionedmassage extending. radially inward-` and, comm.ulloating-4v with. the main outlet of the. drum,., theipassagesf a. radial; outletv section into which thel oil iS.- thrown centrifugally and` an inward extending, section to the -central outlet of; the impeller c ompartment, the lastv sections of said passages being providedwith varies therein to distribute the oilpassing therethrough to the central outlet of the impeller compartment.

An-.oil filter construction comprising a xed casing-having means for securement to a support and being formed with alter chamber, and havinga removable wall,v a power actuated shaft j-ournalled' in the casing,y thecasing having an oil entrance compartment at one end, an intermedia-te impeller compartment and a centrifugal vfilter drumat its other end, a centrifugal iin-A pellermounted* onA the shaft. tov rotate therewith in the impeller compartment, a :centrifugaldrum mounted on the shaft in the drum compartment andv a coupling between the drum and the shaft` 1 wherebyl the drum is rotated by the, shaft, thecasing, being formed.- with transverse partition means forming the entrance compartment for the oil, a compartment for enclosing the impeller, the partition means` 'bei-ng also formed, with an outlet passage connecting the entrance and thev impeller compartments, and with an outlet passage for the impeller compartment located to discharge axially into one end of the drum, the coupling being a slip` coupling slidably keyed on 'the end of the shaft, the drum having concentricr nite-r passages connected in series and a` main axial outlet from end to end of` the drum, the innermost filter passage communicating,withI the main outlet of the drumrat the, inner end ofthe. drum, and the casing being also formedwith an outlet passage, communicating with thel outermost filter chamber of the drum to direct theoil' inward, the last outlet passage communicating with the main outlet of the drum atl the` outerend of the drum whereby,. when the outer endv wall of the casing is removed, the lter drum can be removed and replaced as a unit.

8. An oil filter construction comprising afixed casing and a power actuated shaft journall'ed in the casing, the casing having means at oneend' for attachment to a support, the casing being formed in three sections providing transverse partition means for forming an entrance cornpartment for the oil, an impeller compartment 'and a filter drum compartment, and the lt'er drum compartment being provided with a removable wall at the other, end of' the casing, a part of, said partition means being an end wall in the inner end of the filter drum compartment" chamber and extending-` inwardly toward themain outlet of the drum, journal bearingsV for the shaft in said partition means, anda journal' bearing between said removablel other end wall' of the casing and the tubular-wall ofthe main. outlet, a slipcoupling betweenA the tubular-main outlet' of the drum and, the shaft, the coupling being slidablykeyed tothe,` end. of; the shaft Wherebn uponl removal. of; the end; wall atv the power actuated shaft journalled in the casing,

the casingvhaving an oil entrance compartment, an impeller compartment, and a centrifugal lter drum compartment connected in series, a centrifugal impeller mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith in the impeller compartment, and a centrifugal filter drum mounted on the shaft in the drum compartment, the entrance compartment having an axial opening around the shaft into the impeller compartment, the casing having passages from the impeller compartment and leading therefrom radially inward to discharge coaxially into one end of a main outlet of the filter drum, the filter drum having said tubular main axial outlet from end to end and a series of annular radially spaced concentric partitions forming lter chambers around the main outlet, each chamber having an outlet at one end into the next outer chamber and also the outlets of alternate chambers being located at like ends of the drum, and the outlets of the other chambers at the opposite end of the drum, the innermost chamber having an inlet into the main outlet of the drum, the casing being formed with a discharge passage common to the outlets of the outermost lter chamber and extending radially inward into the main outlet of the drum.

10. An oil filter comprising a fixed casing having an oil entrance compartment and a centrifugal lter drum compartment, a power actuated shaft journalled in the oil entrance compartment, a centrifugal filter drum journalled in said :filter compartment in coaxial registration with said shaft and being operatively connected thereto whereby the drum is rotated by the shaft, said drum including a plurality of cylindrical members arranged in concentrically spacedrelation forming concentrically spaced lter chambers, the innermost cylindrical member forming a discharge outlet extending from the inner end of the drum to the outer end thereof, an oil pump operatively connected to said shaft and having a discharge outlet connected to the inner end of said inner cylindrical member of the filter drum and to the inner filter chamber thereof. the outermost of said tubular members being imperiorate and the intermediate tubular members being apertured to permit the flow of oil outwardly from the innermost chamber to the outermost chamber, said outermost chamber having a discharge outlet extending radially inwardly and communicating with said discharge outlet.

11. An oil lter comprising a xed casing having an oil entrance compartment and a centrifugal lter drum compartment, a power actuated shaft journalled in the oil entrance compartment and extending into said lter drum compartment, an end wall detachably secured to the outer end of said filter drum compartment, a centrifugal filter drum arranged in said filter drum compartment and being journalled at its outer end with said end wall and being detachably connected at its inner end to said shaft, whereby the drum is rotated by the shaft, said drum including inner and outer end walls and a plurality of cylindrical members arranged in concentrically spaced relation between said end walls and forming, in conjunction therewith, concentrically spaced filter chambers, the innermost cylindrical member forming a discharge outlet passage extending from the inner end of the drum through said outer wall, an oil pump operatively connected to said shaft and having a discharge outlet connected to the inner end of said inner cylindrical member and to the inner chamber thereof, the outermost of said tubular members being imperforate and the intermediate tubular members being apertured to permit the fiow of oil outwardly from the innermost chamber to the outermost chamber, said outermost chamber having a discharge outlet extending radially inwardly and communicating with said discharge outlet passage.

GEORGE T. BYNUM.

References Cited in the 111e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,262,146 Ward Apr. 9, 1918 1,767,314 Schmitz June 24, 1930 2,515,398 Derocher July 18, 1950 

